The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Absolutely terrible effort. Got to be honest he might end up being a fine player but Pope is not performing to anywhere near the level to be a shoe in every time he’s fit.

[paul_e]

No way is this a pitch a team should be 81/5 on. We've batted very poorly

I'm not disputing that but, as they showed in the break, if the bowlers action is exactly the same but the ball is moving off the pitch almost randomly that's down to a poor pitch. India have clearly done it on purpose because they know we fall apart in these conditions but I think they've gone too far, the spouts of dust coming up make it look like day 4 or 5 not the first session or 2 of day 1.

[PaulWinch again]

Questionable pitch or not some of this batting has been amateur.

[taylorsworkrate]

Questionable pitch or not some of this batting has been amateur.

That's being generous.

[aev]

Think the pitch is fine. Just a combination of poor batting and good bowling.

[PaulWinch again]

I dream of the heady heights of “poor”. Speaking of poor though - poor old Ben Foakes trying to dig in showing some skill and character. I’d rather have him at 3.

[Meanwood Villa]

This is going to be embarrassing

[olaftab]

England are losing this mentally. The pitch is good for 250+ but demons are in their head.

[PaulWinch again]

I can see why that catch was overturned.

[Martin Carruthers]

They usually look like they've bounced on the replay, but...it looked like it bounced.

[aev]

Think the reply we saw looked as though it bounced, but we didn't see many replays.

Front on replays always make it look as though it has bounced, it is a shame that we didn't see anything side on.

[PaulWinch again]

Can tell they’re going to get about 350 + here.

[paul_e]

Do people still think there's nothing wrong with this pitch?

I'm saying this as an excuse for a terrible batting performance, just pointing out that it's simply not good enough for test cricket and I'd think the same if it was us benefitting from it. There's a hole appearing right where the quicks are planting on the back of about 10-12 overs bowled by seamers from that end, that's just pathetic.

[PaulWinch again]

I wonder if Broad’s celebration appeal did him there.

[PaulWinch again]

Difference here is that India are digging in and placing value on their wicket.